I have been searching the web for current documentation of
the present discussions between the two churches RE: the status
of Anglican Orders.

At this time with the ongoing theological discussion
between Roman Catholic and Anglican Churches, has there been
a change by the Roman Catholic Church to accept Anglican Orders
as valid?

Thank you for considering a response to this question.

In unity with the Bishop of Rome, Pope John Paul ll.

John Renaud

{
Has there been
a change by the Roman Catholic Church to accept Anglican Orders
as valid? }

Mike, with
thankful help by Chan Casey replied:

Hi, John —

To my knowledge No, there has not been any such acknowledgment.

To the best of my knowledge, for Anglican Orders to be valid, they
would ultimately have to be approved by the Vatican and I am not
aware of any such news.

It is the correct form and matter which the Holy See approves that
makes the Sacrament of Holy Orders valid.

There are Churches though, like the Orthodox Church, that are not
in union with the Holy See that still have valid sacraments. This
is because, unlike the Orders in denominations that broke with Rome
at the Protestant Reformation, the Orthodox preserved the text which
make up the form for Holy Orders as well as Apostolic Succession.
We still disagree over the primacy of Peter, but they too can trace
their valid Holy Orders back to the original Apostles, like the Nestorians.

While Henry VIII brought about a schism, he didn't introduce Protestant
doctrine - that is, Lutheran or Calvinist doctrine - regarding the
sacraments. He died in 1547, and his son Edward came to the throne
at the age of nine. A Council of Regents governed until Edward became
16, and Henry had stacked it with religious reformers.

Though the changes to the ordination rite came in during Edward's
reign, it's not really correct to blame Henry (or Edward) for them
outright. That responsibility goes to Thomas Cranmer,
the Archbishop
of Canterbury, during Edward's reign, who did move the Church of
English to Protestant doctrines, and influenced Edward to follow
the Protestant faith.

This happened with the publication of a new order for ordaining
and consecrating bishops and priests in 1550 and revised in 1552.
The intent behind this new order was to eliminate the concept of
the priesthood having a sacrificial character.

In short, although Henry started the ball rolling toward invalid
Anglican orders by stacking the Council of Regents with religious
reformers, Thomas Cranmer influenced Edward to follow his suggestions
which led to the "new" but invalid
form for holy orders
in 1550.

We accept that Orthodox Holy Orders are valid.

For this reason, Orthodox priests who convert to the Catholic faith
are usually not re-ordained.

Your brother in prayer, your brother in Christ,

Mike

Fr. Nick replied:

Dear Mike:

A few thoughts regarding the question of Anglican Orders.
You are correct in the fact that they are not valid orders.

The most common understanding of "Orthodox" bishops,
however, would be Greek, Russian or one of the other
Eastern Rite Churches. These bishops would be prohibited
from ordaining Anglican priests to ensure they have valid
orders.

Usually, an Anglican priest would search out a bishop
whose Apostolic Succession is not in question, most often
an "Old" Catholic or Polish National Catholic
bishop, not in communion with Rome. Their orders would
be valid but illicit.

Fr. Nick

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